Arterial echo-Doppler findings in the distal lower extremities in COVID-19 convalescents
Keywords:
arteries, COVID-19, Doppler ultrasonography, extremities, lower extremity, pedis artery, posterior tibial artery, risk factorsAbstract
Introduction: One of the most common findings in severe SARS-CoV-2 disease is profound hemostasis disturbance, present in arteries but more frequently in veins.
Objective: To determine the findings by arterial echo-Doppler in the distal sector of the lower extremities in COVID-19 convalescents.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 173 COVID-19 convalescents using Doppler ultrasound of the aforementioned arteries. Variables studied included sex, age, atherosclerotic risk factors, and spectral morphology of arterial segments in the distal lower extremities. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used.
Results: Normal multiphasic spectral morphology predominated (24.9%–49.1%) in the bilateral posterior tibial and pedis arteries. This finding was associated with age < 60 years (p = 0.000), the absence of arterial hypertension (p = 0.003–0.009) in the 4 arterial segments and the presence of 2 to 3 atherosclerotic risk factors, except in the right pedis artery (p = 0.002–0.007). A similar finding existed with female sex and the distal arterial segments of the left lower extremity (p = 0.002‑0.007); equivalent to the left posterior tibial arterial segment, with overweight (p = 0.027) and the absence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.032).
Conclusions: Most COVID-19 convalescents show arterial flow in the distal portion of the lower extremities with normal spectral morphology. Women, patients under 60 years of age, and the absence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and smoking predominate, as well as overweight and two or three atherosclerotic risk factors.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dayana Coutin Rondón, Melvis González Méndez, Claudia Hernández Pérez, Nélida de la Caridad Carballo Jorge, Lesly Solís Alfonso, Yenisleidy Miranda Lorenzo, Narciso Argelio Jiménez Pérez
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